Every morning, 78-year-old Justino Okello sits alone on a wooden stool outside his grass-thatched hut in Oryang Ojuma B village, Labongo Amida Sub-County, Kitgum District, watching passersby head off to their daily routines.
His wife died five years ago. His four children—all daughters—are married and living elsewhere. Days often pass without anyone speaking to him. “I can stay the whole day without seeing any relatives. Sometimes I sleep without eating,” Okello said quietly.
When evening falls and families gather to share stories of the day, Okello’s compound remains still. Asked what life means to him now, he paused for a long moment. “Life now is about remembering,” he said. “Remembering those who are not here, and thanking God that I’m still alive.”
He hopes his relatives and grandchildren will visit more often, but he no longer expects much. “For now, I just take each day as it comes. My days begin and end quietly,” he said.
Okello’s story reflects a growing but largely hidden crisis of loneliness among older people in Kitgum District, according to local leaders and community workers.
Matthew Otto Abim, chairperson of the East Acholi Pensioners’ Association, said many elderly people in the sub-region struggle with isolation, with men often suffering the most.
“If you are lucky and your children live nearby, you may receive some support. But even then, they are busy with their own families,” Abim said. “Loneliness exists even in households where husband and wife still live together.”
He explained that children often take their mothers to help care for grandchildren, leaving elderly men alone. While rural areas retain some communal bonds, Abim said the situation is far worse in towns.
“In villages, neighbours may visit and you chat. But in urban areas, many older people are completely on their own—just husband and wife, no grandchildren, no relatives,” he said.
Abim blamed modern life for weakening traditional support systems, saying older people have been robbed of the joy and companionship that once came with extended family living.
“In the past, grandparents enjoyed peace, playing with and embracing their grandchildren. Today, children leave early for school and return late. Even holidays are filled with programs. Aging at this time is terrible,” he said.
James Okidi, the Community Development Officer (CDO) for Kitgum District, said elderly people are increasingly facing poverty, loneliness and mental health challenges, driven by weak family support, poor retirement planning and limited social protection. Okidi said many older people—especially those who never worked in formal employment—reach old age without pensions, savings or reliable caregivers.
“Those who planned well and were in paid employment are relatively okay because they receive pensions or NSSF,” he said. “But the majority, especially farmers and informal workers, built no social security, and they suffer most.”
Kitgum District currently has about 1,200 older persons enrolled under the government’s Senior Citizens Grant, where each beneficiary receives Shs75,000 every three months.
However, Okidi said many elderly people remain unreached, particularly those aged 60 to 79, who are not fully captured in national registration systems. He added that the district lacks accurate data on how many older persons receive pensions or grants.
According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, Kitgum District has approximately 12,979 people aged 60 years and above. According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Uganda’s population stands at about 45.9 million people, of whom approximately 5% are aged 60 years and above.
In absolute terms, this translates to roughly 2.3 million older persons in Uganda, highlighting a gradually growing elderly population within one of the world’s youngest countries. While Uganda remains predominantly youthful—with nearly half of its population under 18—the UBOS data point to emerging demographic shifts that are likely to increase pressure on health services, social protection systems and family-based care for older people in the years ahead.
Family neglect, Okidi said, is an increasing problem, worsened by widespread poverty. Many older people live alone after losing spouses, while their children struggle to provide care.
“In the past, families and communities took responsibility for older persons,” he said. “Now every household is struggling on its own. Some elderly people are left without food, companionship or care. That is why we are seeing depression and even suicide.”
He added that elderly men who neglected their families during their productive years often suffer the most in old age. Okidi also warned that many civil servants die shortly after retirement due to poor preparation and the sudden loss of regular income.
“Some retirees spend their gratuity badly, buying assets they cannot maintain. Within a few years, the money is gone,” he said.
Okidi called for early retirement planning, savings, asset building and stronger associations for older people to promote social interaction, exercise and mental well-being.
“We must start preparing early. Aging is a big issue, and if we do not act now, many more will suffer in silence,” he said.
As Uganda’s population gradually ages and younger generations migrate to cities or abroad, many older citizens are being left behind. With social protection schemes still limited, the quiet struggles of people like Justino Okello risk becoming the defining reality of old age.
Without stronger family support and expanded social protection, Uganda’s elderly may continue to age alone—waiting, remembering and hoping not to be forgotten.
